引述 (yǐn shù) — to quote (someone's words), to cite | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A formal/written verb meaning to quote or cite someone's exact words or a source. Contrast with 引用, which is broader and covers both direct quotation and loose allusion/reference.

verb

to quote (someone's words)to cite

Examples

引述。
Tā zài yǎn jiǎng zhōng yǐn shù le zǒng tǒng de jiǎng huà.
He quoted the president's speech in his address.
引述。
Jì zhě yīng dāng zhǔn què yǐn shù shòu fǎng zhě de yuán huà.
Journalists should accurately quote the interviewee's original words.
引述。
Zhè piān lùn wén duō cì yǐn shù le nà bù jīng diǎn zhù zuò.
This paper repeatedly cites that classic work.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

引 means quote and 述 means state; to cite or report words.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

弓弓gōngbow
丿丿piěindicatory stroke

引 is made from 弓, a bow, and 丿, a short slant stroke added at the place where the string is pulled, marking the action of drawing or pulling.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

辵辵chuòwalk

Sound part声符shēngfú

朮

朮zhú述shù

Same sound today

述 combines 辵, a walking radical, with 朮, which gives the sound; the walking part belongs to the meaning.

Appears in

Reading & Writing

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